That TIme I was Sent to Another World with Nothing but a Backpack

Chapter Twelve: The New Truth

"Two questions, what's a Korea and... can I eat it?"

I sighed, "What I mean is, it's like a no-military allowed zone between two nations, right? To prevent war and stuff?"

"That pretty much sums it up." 

The silhouettes of rows of barracks suddenly became visible as the sun began rising.

"Well, it looks like they aren't respecting that rule very much. Kinda looks like the big military camps that my dad used to tour me around when I was a kid."

"Well, we technically aren't 'inside' the DMZ, so the humans took advantage of that and built their entire row of fortifications right next to the Nekomian Border."

"So... exactly like Korea."

"Whatever you say, kid."

As we were admiring the intricate military compound, a large, burly knight emerged from the largest of the barracks, noticed us, and began rushing over with a terrifyingly threatening expression.

"Uhh, what's the Russian-looking guy's problem?" I asked, watching the man struggling to run in his heavy, blindingly gleaming armor.

"Well, Nekomian citizens aren't allowed to cross into human territory and vice versa. The army can't risk allowing the Nekomian Empire to use us as hostages or extract information about the kingdom, so they prevent anyone from even approaching the area around the border."

"Soooo, how do we get across, then?" I asked, awaiting his orders.

"Uhm, we could just run?" He suggested, pointing to an open spot between two stone-walled barracks.

The husky soldier finally reached speaking distance, and quickly exclaimed, "Hey! No civilians are allowed past this point! Now run along home, little brat! Or I'll have to charge you with military trespassing!

Well, I don't have any better ideas!" I answered, "Run!"

Mochi and I ran down the hill, zigzagging around the soldier, who was now screaming various profanity at as that I probably shouldn't repeat, and bolting past the barracks into the DMZ.

"I think we *huff* lost them!" I wheezed, trying to keep pace.

"Don't let your guard down kid!" yelled Mochi. "There's still the Nekomian side to pass through!"

I groaned as we raced towards the Nekomian barracks, which almost looked like the old Shinto shrines I had seen around my hometown, with ornate green roofs, and large golden statues.

"Come on Mochi! We can make it!" I urged, trying to keep the overweight dog from collapsing via encouragement.

Just as we were about to enter the Nekomian empire, the world began feeling like it was shaking with intensity and malice.

"W-Wha! E-Earthquake?!?" I asked, trying to keep my footing despite our deplorable luck.

"Oh poop..." Stated Mochi, as the surrounding ground darkened with a gargantuan silhouette.

I looked up at the sky where he was staring. There was what looked like a giant jellyfish, flying through the air, breaking every law of physics a high schooler could remember, with millions of wavy hairs dangling from its body.

"Run!" I screamed as I tried to increase my already maximum running speed.

"I should've listened to mom about cardio!" Yelped Mochi as he tried to keep up with me, looking like he was about to pass out.

"Help!" I screamed, hoping that one of the soldiers on either side would rescue us.

The armies surrounding us simply watched from their defensive positions in silence, not daring to enter the DMZ where we stood.

"It's no use kid, they can't risk starting a war for a couple of strangers' liv- OOF!"

I slid to a stop as Mochi tripped, tumbling uncontrollably down the hill, until he slammed into a splintered cherry tree with a loud thud.

"Mochi! No!" I exclaimed as I planted my shoes into the ground, almost falling over myself as I tried to turn back to save my friend.

The large creature wrapped one of its tentacles around Mochi's body, which caused it to begin to glow bright yellow.

"AhAhAhA! bAhAeHeHa! ThAtS sO fUnNy!" He manicly chortled, completely lost in what seemed like some kind of drugged state.

"Mochi! NOOOO!" I called, as the creature rapidly pulled him higher into the sky.

"ByA bYe FrEiNd!" He lethargically said, giving me a friendly little wave with his paw as he rose higher toward the creature.

"Mochi! Please don't leave me alone! I can't do this without friends!"

The creature let out a high-pitched call and began flying into the clouds that covered the hills of the Nekomian Empire, disappearing into the clouds.

I ran after the creature, knowing inside that it was of no use. "MOCHI, COME BACK HERE DAMMIT!" 

Losing all focus to the despair of the fact that my only friend most likely just became fish food, my foot caught on a rock, and I began painfully tumbling down a steep hill, racing right past the Nekomian border army base.  My body briefly rode into the air as I launched off the end of a minuscule cliff, splashing into a small puddle of putrid water. My eyes closed as extreme agony echoed from my left leg. Rain began to douse the swampy biome surrounding me, dousing me in the world's cold tears that seemed to resonate with my own emotions.

"M-m-mochi...." I cried, the pain from my leg overwhelming every thought in my mind, as I slowly began to pass out from everything that had happened.